Illegal parking near two bus stops in Chennai’s George Town has made it difficult for buses to pick up and drop off passengers, with residents reporting traffic congestion, unsafe boarding conditions and violations of one-way traffic rules in the area.
The affected stops are the Thambu (C) Street and Collectorate Office bus stops on Ibrahim Sahib Road and Rajaji Road. The problem has intensified after the temporary Royapuram bus terminus was established on Ibrahim Sahib Main Road, leading to a substantial increase in public movement and the number of buses operating through the area, according to a report by DT Next.
Vehicles are parked daily along the roads near both stops, leaving buses with limited space to pull in while collecting or dropping passengers. As a result, buses stopping on the carriageway contribute to traffic snarls, while commuters are forced to move around parked vehicles to reach the boarding points.
Passengers waiting for buses also face direct safety and accessibility problems. Sudha, a passenger quoted by DT Next, said some commuters were being forced to stand on the road while waiting for buses. She added that senior citizens and others had difficulty walking around the parked vehicles, while the lack of parking space was contributing to congestion.
Residents said the roadside parking included vehicles belonging to people living in the area and travel agencies. Nagalakshmi, another resident quoted in the report, said police officials had already warned people against parking near the stops, but enforcement had not been sufficient to deter repeated violations.
The congestion is also linked to alleged violations of the one-way traffic rule. Motorists travelling from the Bharathi Women’s College junction towards the temporary Royapuram bus stop have reportedly been driving against the permitted direction. Residents said these violations created accident risks near the Linghi Chetty Street turn, close to the bus stop.
The situation reflects the pressure placed on streets when a temporary transport facility increases bus and passenger movement without adequate space for stopping, boarding, parking and circulation. In this case, the same road space is being used by buses, parked vehicles, pedestrians and motorists, leaving passengers to negotiate the carriageway around active traffic.
A traffic police official told DT Next that vehicles parked near the bus stops would be removed at the earliest. The official also said appropriate fines would be imposed on those violating parking rules in the area.
The immediate response announced by the traffic police is the removal of vehicles near the affected bus stops and the imposition of fines on violators. Residents’ concerns also include enforcement against wrong-way driving near the Linghi Chetty Street turn, where they have reported accident risks.
